How to care for your senior dog

How to Care for your Senior Dog

Introduction !A senior dog has different care requirements compared to a younger dog and as he ages, his basic needs are also going to change. This means that everything from his diet and exercise needs to be reevaluated at some point in time so that he receives the proper food and exercise so he can stay healthy.

!Since dogs are very good at hiding their health, it's up to you to keep a watchful eye on your canine friend and adjust his routine to the changes in his immune system and body so he can better cope with the environmental and physical stresses. With that in mind, the guide below is going to help you understand what senior dog care is all about and what it takes to make sure your senior dog continues to be healthy and happy as he ages.

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How To Feed Your Senior Dog !Feeding your older dog properly is probably one of the most important things you need to consider as he ages. In general, it's best if you feed him two times a day, but reduce his calorie intake by 20% compared to what you'd feed to a young dog. Since older dogs are not too active, they can easily get overweight which poses a wide range of problems to your dog's health. !The food should be served at room temperature because this way the dog can smell and taste it properly. This is that much more important when your dog is old, because as he ages his sense of smell diminishes by the day. For instance, if you want to feed him can food, then it's recommended you warm up the can beforehand. However, since heating it up can

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take as much as 2 hours (if you take it out of the fridge), you should prepare it well in advance so that your dog doesn't eat later than he should. This would only stress him and make him feel sick which as a loving owner, you certainly don't want. !On the other hand, if time is an issue, then you could just use the microwave and heat up the food for a short period of time until it reaches room temperature. However, just make sure you're very careful with hot spots. Feeding your dog food that’s either too cold or too hot may lead to burning, teeth problems and indigestion. !Feeding the dog should be done in a quiet environment where there are no loud noises or anything that may disturb him from peacefully enjoying his meal. If your dog is a larger breed, he may be susceptible to arthritis as he ages so it's going to be painful for him to lean down. To make it easier for him to eat, place the food bowl at head height. Some people may have children and if



that’s the case with you, then it's recommended you don't allow them to interrupt the dog while he's eating. If you have more than one dog, make sure to feed each of them in a separate room, especially in case of bullying. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Weight Concerns When dogs age, they tend to limit their activity and this makes them susceptible to weight gain. Since it's a common nutritional disorder in almost every dog, obesity needs to be carefully monitored. Therefore, if your dog is overweight, he is going to be more likely to develop various health problems, such as respiratory conditions, diabetes, osteoarthritis and more. To control the tendency of overeating, it's best to reduce the calorie intake of your dog. You can also visit your vet before changing his diet since this way you'll be able to exclude the possibility of underlying medical conditions and discuss a diet that can even help your dog get back to a normal weight for his age. In most cases, the veterinarian will recommend specially formulated "light" products that contain low amounts of fat,



but are rich in all the necessary minerals and vitamins your dog needs. !If your dog isn’t getting enough activity, then this is surely going to lead to weight gain. Hence, before you go ahead and increase his activity levels, speak to your veterinarian to make sure you won't stress your dog with excessive outdoor or indoor activities. If appropriate, start by adding an extra twenty minutes of playtime or ten to twenty minutes to her or his daily walk. In some cases, especially when your dog suffers from arthritis, he can respond very well to swimming and\or hydrotherapy. For more information on whether your dog is suitable for this or not, make sure to consult your vet. !!!!!!!!



Exercises You Can Consider For Your Senior Dog !INDOOR EXERCISE

!To help your dog feel active and youthful, it's very important to provide him an environment that is full of mental and physical stimulation. But how can you do this? Well, you could start by

bringing home a few treat toys that can disperse his meals in smaller doses to help improve his mental and physical function, but also help with losing weight if your dog is from a heavier breed. !To keep your dog's health in tip-top shape, take notice if he can go down and up the stairs and if he can, have him move around the house and go up and down the stairs a few times a day so you help keep his muscles loose and his joints moving. If



your dog cannot climb stairs, then you may wish to invest in some ramps since this way your pet can be active without experiencing too much discomfort\pain. !OUTDOOR EXERCISES

Outdoor exercises should be kept short and you should continue walking him in your favorite park a few times a week. To find out more about what a comfortable

distance would be for your dog, it's recommended you speak to your vet. If your dog has one or more physical limitations, then he may still want to play with kids or run after balls, but he may lack the stamina to do so. Because of that, you should consider limiting long games of swimming, fetch and walking in the sand or deep grass for too long. While these are all fun activities, if they're



considered for long periods of time, your dog can easily get fatigued. !Another thing you should pay close attention to is the sensitivity your dog has to the changes in temperature, both cold and hot. In fact, you should pay extra care if your pet is overweight and keep him properly hydrated both in the heat and shade. ! !!!!!!!!!!!



When You Should Take Your Dog To The Vet !If you care about the overall health of your pet, then it's recommended you schedule regular vet examinations regardless of his age. While an annual exam is the norm, depending on the breed, age and conditions your dog may already suffer from, more frequent exams may be required. The signs of potential dangerous ailments are generally overlooked by most pet owners, since they believe they are normal for an aging dog. !While some changes are expected as your pet ages, some of them aren't. Therefore, you need to make sure your pet receives the senior dog care he deserves to get healthy and experience as little discomfort as possible as he ages. With that in mind, below you'll find the most common reasons



why you should take your dog to the vet as soon as possible: !1. Bleeding gums and bad breath: Proper dental health is crucial not only for your pet's mouth and teeth, but also for his overall health. When he ages, your dog becomes more susceptible to metabolic diseases, infections, oral cancers, tooth loss and tartar so that is why you should call your vet the minute you notice any unusual health symptoms. !2. Head tilt, hearing loss or sudden blindness: These signs can be easily seen with a wide range of causes, including cancer, poisoning, infections and so forth. In order to find the cause of these problems and treat them, you should speak to your vet right away. !3. Appetite or weight changes: You should always keep a close eye on your dog's weight and appetite. If he eats less or more or barely touches his food, you may need to get him on a special diet. !



4. Thirst and changes in urine output: A dog shouldn't drink more water than usual because the heater is turned on and outside is freezing, because it's summertime or just because he's old. So if you notice your dog drinking more water than usual, it may signal he has kidney problems or even diabetes. !5. Itchy skin and hair loss: These problems can easily occur regardless of the dog's age and when they do, you shouldn't ignore them. Since your dog can greatly damage his skin by chewing, scratching and licking, seeing your vet as soon as possible to give him an examination is strongly recommended. !6. Pain caused by arthritis: The discomfort and pain of arthritis can luckily be alleviated with today's modern medicine. Make sure you schedule an appointment with your vet to discuss more about the right medications for your dog. !NOTE: KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE, SO IF YOU NOTICE YOUR DOG IS ACTING STRANGELY OR IS NOT HIMSELF LATELY, THIS IS A GOOD SIGN SOMETHING IS BOTHERING HIM AND YOU NEED TO TAKE HIM TO THE VET.



Changes You Should Expect When Your Dog Ages !When a pet begins to age, there are going to be certain changes happening in his body and they vary from one breed to another. Most of the times when it comes to dogs, changes in the heart are very common, so you should watch your dog closely and take notice of any symptoms that may hint a heart condition or disease. As the owner, you can help your pet in many ways, including:



!1. Changing the way you interact with your dog. 2. Changing your pet's environment. 3. Using appropriate supplements and medications. 4. Diagnosing problems as early as possible. !!COAT AND SKIN CHANGES !Just like you, your dog is going to show some gray hair sooner or later with it mainly occurring around his eyes and the muzzle. You may also notice his hair coat becoming duller and also thinner, but on top of being a sign of old age, it can also signal a nutritional deficiency or a disease. You can help your dog restore some of his coat by giving him fatty acid supplements, but if there is a massive change in hair coat, then it's best to consult your vet. Bear in mind that you should also groom your dog more often, while paying extra care with his anal area. !As for the skin, it's usually going to become thinner and therefore more prone to injury. In the worst



cases, some dogs are going to develop multiple skin tumors (benign) which sadly cannot be removed without causing pain to your pet. On top of that, if your dog has dry skin, then you can add some fatty acid supplements to help his skin get back to normal. !

MUSCULAR PROBLEMS AND ARTHRITIS !As your dog ages there's a great chance he may develop arthritis, prompting you to consider various senior dog care routines if you want to make sure he feels better. This condition varies from one dog to another, with the pain being debilitating, mild and everything in-between. The good news is that you can easily alleviate your dog's pain by administering him anti inflammatory pain relievers and glucosamine supplements. However, check with your vet before giving your dog any type of medications just so you're 100% sure they are not going to cause him side effects or any kind of discomfort. !



DENTAL DISEASES !When your dog ages, routine dental care becomes more important than ever. If your dog has bad breath, then don't assume this is normal due to his age, because it's not. Most of the times when a dog has bad breath it signals gum disease which can affect various other organs, including his kidneys, lungs and heart. In the worst cases, it can even lead to life threatening complications. ! To avoid that, you should schedule a professional teeth cleaning session every year or more frequently, depending on your dog's dental health. Regular brushing is a must, so consider it at least once in a few days. !



LIVER, KIDNEY AND HEART DISEASE !In the same way we humans develop various diseases as we age because our internal organs cannot function as effectively as when we were young, the same thing is true when it comes to dogs. The first organ to suffer changes is the heart, especially the mitral valve, which is going to lose elasticity. While this is normal, if your dog has a history of heart disease, then it's best to consult your veterinarian. !The risk of liver and kidney disease is high when your pet gets older. Sadly, most of the times when symptoms of liver or kidney problems become noticeable, it's already too late. To prevent that from happening, talk to your veterinarian about including regular screening tests for liver and kidney functions as part of the other exams your dog needs to consider as he ages. If for any reason he may need to be anesthetized, it's recommended you consider pre anesthesia screening. This way you're going to make sure that



anesthetizing him won't cause any health complications. !

WEIGHT AND NUTRITIONAL CHANGES !As your canine friend ages, his need for calories and metabolism decrease and this is going to directly impact his maintenance energy, reducing it by approximately twenty percent. This means that if you continue feeding your dog the same amount of calories as when he was active and most of all young, he is going to put on some weight. In fact, obesity is a very common problem for older dogs, but you can easily prevent your dog from gaining weight by feeding him more fiber and giving him supplements, especially if he suffers from various medical conditions. !



In Conclusion !As you can see, senior dog care is very important if you want to make sure your canine friend won't have to experience unnecessary discomfort due to the normal process of aging. Since you have probably been his owner from the time when he was just a little pup, it's your duty to pay attention to any changes in his behavior and contact your vet as soon as you notice something's wrong. !By being proactive in identifying and preventing potential health problems in your dog, you are going to enjoy the same wonderful company of when he was younger and have the peace of mind he is as happy as he can possible be.



How to care for your senior dog

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